Charles Lahti, who has been actively identified with Renville county life for many years past, was born in Norway, of Swedish ancestry, Nov. 22, 1859, son of Peter and Johanna Lahti. He was brought to America by his parents, and after locating with them in St. Peter for a while, came with them to Birch Cooley township. As a youth, he helped about the farm, hunted and trapped with his father, and attended the district schools at times. In 1877 he went to Minneapolis and did railroad work for three years. In 1880 he rented the home place, in section 12, for five years and then purchased it. Being an enterprising and successful farmer he soon was able to increase his holdings, and added to this tract until he owned 416 acres in Renville county, 160 in Aitkin county and two small farms twenty-two miles from Tampa, Florida. In 1903 he retired and moved to the village of Franklin, where he now resides. He is a stockholder in the milling company and has various other interests. Mr. Lahti has a clock, bought in St. Peter in 1865, which still runs and keeps good time.

Charles Lahti was married Dec. 22, 1890, to Bertha Ylilahta, and they have four children: Mabel, who died at the age of twelve; Sadie, who died at the age of ten; Esther, who died at the age of eight, and Stella, at home.